Rome's Gay Emperors and Soldiers DOCUMENTARY

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Cultural ideas of sexuality have evolved over the centuries and were very different in the ancient world. For the Romans, records show that they were less concerned with the gender of partners so much as they were worried about who played the active role. Free male citizens were expected to be dominant in all relations, be they with men or women, in order to preserve their virtue.

Thus the Roman army would punish troops who engaged in homosexual relationships with each as it necessarily followed that one party would be taking the submissive and thus shameful role. BUT these same soldiers were free to engage in same-sex relationships outside of camp with those of lesser status such as slaves, youths, or social infamis. Roman commanders do seem to have had some leeway here and we have numerous reports of their same-sex relations while on campaign.

In this episode we seek to explore these ancient ideas of sexuality through the lens of the most powerful figures of the Roman Empire, Rome's Gay Emperors. In doing so we look at the cases of Nero, Trajan, Hadrian, and Elagabalus. Each of their stories helps shed light on this topic.

What other topics should we cover next?

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Credits:
Research = Chris Das Neves
Script = Chris Das Neves
Narration = Invicta
Art = Beverly Johnson and Penta Limited

Sources and Suggested Reading:
"Sexuality in Rome and Ancient Greece" by M. Skinner
"Homosexuality in Greece and Rome: A Sourcebook of Basic Documents" by T. Hubbard
"Same-Sex Desire and Love in Greco-Roman Antiquity" by Verstraete
"Latin Sexual Vocabulary" by J.N. Adams
"X-Treme Latin" by H. Beard

#history
#documentary
#rome